ID :
206322
Sat, 09/10/2011 - 00:42
Auther :
Shortlink :
http://m.oananews.org//node/206322
The shortlink copeid
6 Months On: Radiation Hampers Disposal of Tsunami Debris
Tokyo, Sept. 8 (Jiji Press)--Local authorities across Japan have offered to help municipalities hit hardest by the March 11 disaster dispose of debris left by the earthquake and tsunami.
But not one such offer has yet to be realized, due to fears of radioactive contamination stemming from the nuclear crisis at Tokyo Electric Power Co.'s <9501> Fukushima No. 1 power plant.
Disposal of tsunami debris across a number of regions is possible only with the support and understanding of local residents, an Environment Ministry official says.
"We must be careful, moving forward step by step," the official says.
The ministry estimates that tsunami debris left in coastal areas exceeds 23 million tons in the three-hardest hit prefectures of Iwate, Miyagi and Fukushima. The figure excludes debris in the exclusion zone around the crippled nuclear plant in Fukushima.
With the amount far exceeding the capacity of the three prefectures, the ministry has solicited help outside the region.
About 570 local governments in 42 prefectures have offered to assist, paving the way for 2.9 million tons of debris to be incinerated and 1.1 million tons to be dumped as landfill annually.
The three devastated prefectures are trying to increase their own capacities by setting up provisional waste incineration plants and outsourcing disposal operations to private companies.
But their efforts are far from adequate. One Miyagi Prefecture official says: "We cannot move forward without relying on other prefectures."
However, radioactive contamination is no longer a local problem limited to Fukushima Prefecture.
Radioactive substances have been detected in ash from incinerated waste at numerous disposal facilities throughout eastern Japan.
In August, organizers of the traditional "Okuribi" bonfire in Kyoto, Japan's ancient capital, had to cancel plans to burn pine trees from Takatamatsubara, a major coastal tourist destination in Iwate Prefecture hit hard by the tsunami, due to radiation concerns.
To address public uneasiness, the Environment Ministry has drawn up guidelines for the disposal of tsunami debris and other waste contaminated with radioactive substances.
In the guidelines, the ministry says there is no problem accepting waste ash if radioactive cesium amounts are 8,000 becquerels per kilogram or less.
The ministry is urging disaster-hit areas to conduct radiation checks on debris and ash before shipping such waste to other municipalities.
But many local authorities are finding it difficult to persuade their residents. Some, including the city of Gero of Gifu Prefecture, have already withdrawn offers to accept tsunami debris.
Some people are against their areas accepting debris unless it is entirely free of radioactive substances, a Yamagata Prefecture official says.
But not one such offer has yet to be realized, due to fears of radioactive contamination stemming from the nuclear crisis at Tokyo Electric Power Co.'s <9501> Fukushima No. 1 power plant.
Disposal of tsunami debris across a number of regions is possible only with the support and understanding of local residents, an Environment Ministry official says.
"We must be careful, moving forward step by step," the official says.
The ministry estimates that tsunami debris left in coastal areas exceeds 23 million tons in the three-hardest hit prefectures of Iwate, Miyagi and Fukushima. The figure excludes debris in the exclusion zone around the crippled nuclear plant in Fukushima.
With the amount far exceeding the capacity of the three prefectures, the ministry has solicited help outside the region.
About 570 local governments in 42 prefectures have offered to assist, paving the way for 2.9 million tons of debris to be incinerated and 1.1 million tons to be dumped as landfill annually.
The three devastated prefectures are trying to increase their own capacities by setting up provisional waste incineration plants and outsourcing disposal operations to private companies.
But their efforts are far from adequate. One Miyagi Prefecture official says: "We cannot move forward without relying on other prefectures."
However, radioactive contamination is no longer a local problem limited to Fukushima Prefecture.
Radioactive substances have been detected in ash from incinerated waste at numerous disposal facilities throughout eastern Japan.
In August, organizers of the traditional "Okuribi" bonfire in Kyoto, Japan's ancient capital, had to cancel plans to burn pine trees from Takatamatsubara, a major coastal tourist destination in Iwate Prefecture hit hard by the tsunami, due to radiation concerns.
To address public uneasiness, the Environment Ministry has drawn up guidelines for the disposal of tsunami debris and other waste contaminated with radioactive substances.
In the guidelines, the ministry says there is no problem accepting waste ash if radioactive cesium amounts are 8,000 becquerels per kilogram or less.
The ministry is urging disaster-hit areas to conduct radiation checks on debris and ash before shipping such waste to other municipalities.
But many local authorities are finding it difficult to persuade their residents. Some, including the city of Gero of Gifu Prefecture, have already withdrawn offers to accept tsunami debris.
Some people are against their areas accepting debris unless it is entirely free of radioactive substances, a Yamagata Prefecture official says.
